Expert Reviews Are Good

Good Product Quality

Several customers reckoned that the product was good quality. Expert review site Videomaker.com wrote “With loads of features, ease of use and quality to back it all up” . Expert website Cnet.com said seven years ago “The top-notch video quality, performance” . Expert review site Macworld.com wrote in their review of the Sony HDR-XR520 “The image quality is unremarkable—it’s fine.” .

Good Connectivity

A few people reckoned that it had gps. Expert website Cnet.com said “A pair of hard-disk-based AVCHD camcorders that integrate the dual firsts of built-in GPS and a new Exmor-R back” in their review. Seven years ago expert review site About.com wrote in their Sony HDR-XR520 review “A built-in GPS receiver”. Electricpig.co.uk gave it an excellent review and mentioned also seven years ago “A massive 240GB HDDm 12x zoom, Full HD and even GPS for geotagging.” in their review of the Sony HDR-XR520.

Sony Has Good Reviews for Its Video Cameras

On average Sony camcorders have good ratings as do all video cameras produced by Sony.

Good Geotagging

Three Sony HDR-XR520 reviewers who reviewed the product considered that it had good geotagging. Electronicsme.com mentioned “Geotagging videos is fun” in their review of this camcorder however despite that they rated the product 3 stars.

+8 More reasons for

Good Technical Features

Some customers who reviewed it reckoned that it had good features. Eisa.eu mentioned “This Full HD camcorder features a super-sensitive Exmor R CMOS sensor with 6 megapixel resolution” in their review. Electronicsme.com wrote in their Sony HDR-XR520 review six years ago “Stunning HD pics, huge hard drive and raft of great features” . Electronicsme.com also said “Fun GPS features”.

Good Support

A few Sony HDR-XR520 owners agreed that this camcorder had good technical guidance. Macworld.com wrote in their review of the Sony HDR-XR520 on Mac World “Good manual controls.”. Electronicsme.com said “Massive storage capacity, good manual control placement, optical viewfinder”.

Nice Design

A number of people who reviewed the product thought it was smooth. Electronicsme.com mentioned in their Sony HDR-XR520 review “Smooth slow motion” .

Good Quality Lens

One person wrote in their reviews that it had a good zoom.

Good Screen / Viewfinder

One Sony HDR-XR520 owner who reviewed this camcorder wrote that it had a good screen. Electronicsme.com said in their Sony HDR-XR520 review six years ago “Crisp and clear LCD screen” .

Easy to Use

Three Sony HDR-XR520 reviewers wrote in their reviews that this camcorder was easy to use. Electronicsme.com said six years ago “Cam Control dial makes shooting easier” in their review of this camcorder.

Robust

One person reckoned that the Sony HDR-XR520 was well made. Expert review site Macworld.com said in their review of the Sony HDR-XR520 seven years ago “The HDR-XR520V is a solid HD camcorder, with lots of storage” .

11 Reasons Against

Not Good in Terms of Size

A few Sony HDR-XR520 owners mentioned in their reviews that it was not heavy and bulky. Electronicsme.com wrote six years ago “The XR520V feels quite bulky in the hand compared wi” in their review however they gave this camcorder a score of 68 out of 100. Electronicsme.com also wrote “Despite is bulky appearance”. Electronicsme.com also said “Tricky user interface, heavy, short battery life, unremarkable HD video performance”.

One Sony HDR-XR520 reviewer who reviewed the Sony HDR-XR520 wrote that it was not compact. Electronicsme.com mentioned “Not compact or light” . One customer thought the Sony HDR-XR520 was not heavy.

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Poor Battery Life

One customer who reviewed this camcorder mentioned that it did not have a good battery life.

Not Full HD

The HDR-XR520 is not Full HD, although it is worth keeping in mind that most of the other camcorders that have been on the market for around the same time as the HDR-XR520 are also not Full HD.

Video cameras which are Full HD that might be worth looking at include the GoPro Hero 3[plb_2666018_price] which is also higher rated.

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Does Not Have an Image Stabiliser

Like most of the other video cameras of a similar age and type to the HDR-XR520, the Sony HDR-XR520 does not have an image stabiliser.

We think you might also be interested in alternative camcorders which also have an image stabiliser including the FDR-X1000[pl_2962225_price], or the HDR-CX730[pl_363171_price] both from Sony.

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+8 More reasons against

Does Not Have an HDMI Port

Most video cameras of this age and type do not have an HDMI port. The Sony HDR-XR520 is no exception to this as it too does not have an HDMI port.

There are a number of alternative video cameras which also have an HDMI port that you might want to look at including the FDR-X1000[pl_2962225_price], or the HDR-CX730[pl_363171_price] both from Sony.

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Does Not Have an Interchangeable Lens

Most comparable spec video cameras that have been on the market for a similar time to the HDR-XR520 do not have an interchangeable lens. The Sony HDR-XR520 is no exception to this as it too does not have an interchangeable lens.

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Does Not Have a Built-In Display

Most of the other comparable spec video cameras that have been available for more than two years have a built-in display, however the Sony HDR-XR520 does not have a built-in display.

It is worth also looking at other video cameras which also have a built-in display including the Sony FDR-X1000[plb_2962225_price].

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Not Waterproof

Like most of the other camcorders that are a similar age to the HDR-XR520, the HDR-XR520 is not waterproof.

If you would prefer a camcorder that is waterproof then you might also want to look at the Sony FDR-X1000[plb_2962225_price].

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Does Not Have a Night Mode

The HDR-XR520 does not have a night mode. Most of the other camcorders that have been on the market for around the same time as the HDR-XR520 also do not have a night mode.

We think you might also be interested in alternative video cameras which also have a night mode including the Sony HDR-CX730[plb_363171_price].

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Does Not Have a Built-In Projector

The Sony HDR-XR520 does not have a built-in projector. Most of the other camcorders that have been available for more than two years also do not have a built-in projector.

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Not 3D Compatible

Like most of the other camcorders that have been around for a comparable time to the HDR-XR520, the HDR-XR520 is not 3D compatible.

It may be the most expensive camcorder in this test, but the XR520VE is a monster when it comes to storage capacity, with a 240GB hard drive that?s bigger than the stock storage space found in... Read more…

It may be the most expensive camcorder in this test, but the XR520VE is a monster when it comes to storage capacity, with a 240GB hard drive that?s bigger than the stock storage space found in... Read more…

Sony?s Handycam HDR-XR520V is the flagship of its high definition Handycam camcorder line up. Youll find a host of high-end features such as a large, 240GB hard disk drive, a new CMOS image... Read more…